Key Verse Spotlight
Acts 16:3 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. "
Acts 16:3
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
1 He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
2 The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him.
3 Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem.
5 So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
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Paul
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Timothy Paul is a companion of Timothy.
Source: Acts 16:1; Acts 16:3
He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek.
Read Acts 16:1Paul wanted to have him go out with him, and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Read Acts 16:3 -
Silas Paul is a companion of Silas.
Source: Acts 15:40
but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of God.
Read Acts 15:40 -
Barnabas Paul is a companion of Barnabas.
Source: Acts 13:9; Acts 13:2; Acts 13:4
But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him
Read Acts 13:9As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
Read Acts 13:2So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.
Read Acts 13:4 -
Titus Paul worked alongside Titus.
Source: 2 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 8:23
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the assembly of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia:
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
Read 2 Corinthians 8:23 -
Philemon Paul worked alongside Philemon.
Source: Philemon 1:1
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Read Philemon 1:1 -
Luke Paul worked alongside Luke.
Source: Philemon 1:1; Philemon 1:24
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our beloved fellow worker,
Read Philemon 1:1as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
Read Philemon 1:24 -
Priscilla Paul worked alongside Priscilla.
Source: Romans 1:1; Romans 16:3
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,
Read Romans 1:1Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
Read Romans 16:3 -
Aquila Paul worked alongside Aquila.
Source: Romans 1:1; Romans 16:3
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,
Read Romans 1:1Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
Read Romans 16:3
Selected relationship data adapted from BibleData, Brady Stephenson (CC BY 4.0). Reviewed, translated and supplemented with Scripture references.
From This Chapter
Acts 16:1
"He came to Derbe and Lystra; and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess who believed, but his father was a Greek."
Acts 16:2
"The brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium gave a good testimony about him."
Acts 16:4
"As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered the decrees to them to keep which had been ordained by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem."
Acts 16:5
"So the assemblies were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily."
Acts 16:6
"When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia."
Acts 16:7
"When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn’t allow them."
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